I've always liked crows, especially after I read Sterling North's book Rascal. In addition to his pet raccoon, he had a crow named Poe. I always wanted to find a baby crow and raise it. Crows are so smart.

I hope when it's my time to exit, I do it as gracefully as Kathy. She has taught me a lot from documenting her journey.

I am feeling nostalgic tonight.

__________________
I'd rather live in my car with my dogs than live in a castle without them.

Dogs may not be our whole lives, but they make our lives whole.

Don't wait for the Last Judgement. It takes place every day. -Albert Camus

I chuckle today as I remember that Kathy loved dogs and tolerated cats. I think if I ever get another cat, I shall call her/him Gilmer or Gilly. Kathy would laugh at that.

We have had wonderful sunshine for a few days now...but it is soooo cold that nobody in their right mind can be out in the fresh air for long. It is around 0-F and the air bites your nose. Today will be a drive, I think, not sure where to but it WILL include lunch along the way...in a warm restaurant.

I reread some of Gilmer / Kathy's thread and it seems like her rapid decline began on x-mas eve after a day of being on her feet and slicing cheese and sausage that evening before retiring for the evening. It's good she was able to manage the cancer pretty well up to that point and do things she enjoyed. She sure was smart, compassionate and funny.......she'll be missed.

I love my winter garden....the hydrangeas are tall and covered and so many other lovely shapes and plant lights and mosaic bird feeders....plus the fire pit and grill...such weird words for an Australian to utter .... normally the lights are all on and it so lovely.

Peace. And beauty....and Kathy would be glad.
She would say: that is as it should be.

__________________#thepowerofus

"The world breaks everyone and afterward many are strong in the broken places..." Ernest Hemingway

"It may be raining, but there's a rainbow above you..." The Eagles, Desperado

We have hardly a sprinkling here (touch wood) just very cold temperatures.

Pondy, do you have any of that spray air that blasts at the keyboard and blows out dust and debris that accumulates. You may want to try that first.

Least, I envy you the stay cozy day, I think tomorrow that will be my plan. Love the story of the crow and the cat.

We drove to the good mall through the sunny countryside and it was beautiful, even in it's winter browns and beiges with evergreens brightening the hills. I bought some new jeans for the trip...on sale of course.

When we got home there was a message on my home phone. Before Christmas I bid at a silent auction (a hospital charity fund raiser) on a limited edition print by Lawren Harris, a member of The Group of Seven...which is a famous Canadian group who inspired some of the finest Canadian landscape paintings ever put to canvas. Anyway, I bid on "The Red House In Winter" a and got the call today that I had won the bid and wanting to make arrangements to get it to me or for me to pick it up. I called back and left a message but it may be Monday before I hear back.